KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28, 2016:

Its chairman, Datuk Shafie Abdullah, said the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today was seen as a positive step in ensuring that the rakyat had access to affordable housing.

“To me, this is a good step because there are many people who still have the buying power to purchase homes costing upto RM300,000.

“If we open it to all, perhaps those who have not been able to buy homes will be left out. So when the Prime Minister gave the signal that such homes are for those yearning to own their first home, it is a good indication.

“I believe the government has studied the number of those with the (necessary) finance or sufficient pay schemes, but do not have homes of their own. The priority is to give to those in need,” he told The Rakyat Post when contacted today.

During the recalibration annoucement today, Najib said the affordable homes would only be made available to first-time home buyers with immediate effect.

The government will also be holding joint home ownership expositions nationwide to promote the homes under 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA), Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia (PPA1m) homes, among others. Some 100,000 units will be offered during the programme.

For people’s housing projects priced at RM35,000, the government, through Bank Simpanan Nasional and Bank Rakyat, will offer financing packages at 4% interest from a fund totalling RM400 million. The initiative will benefit 10,000 home owners.

Shafie said Uda Holdings would also be launching an affordable homes project in April.

“We already have a project in Kampung Baru and we are planning for more as we are looking at land that can be developed for housing.

“We are offering homes at RM300,000 in Kampung Baru which is part of the (whole) development plan.

“This is part of our corporate social responsibility effort and the demand for affordable homes in high, especially in Kuala Lumpur,” the Wangsa Maju Umno division chief said.